CONFERENCE ON THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS IN TURKISH PRISONS
Project Summary:
This project aims to organize a conference in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss the challenges and solutions concerning the rights of transgender individuals in Turkish prisons. The conference will bring together experts, activists, and policymakers to address issues related to medical care, gender identity, and human rights in prison settings. This conference serves as the second phase of the project, following a comprehensive report on the conditions of transgender prisoners in Turkey. A book based on this report is currently in the publication stage.
Start Date: March 2024
Current Status: The first phase, which involved reporting on the conditions of transgender prisoners in Turkey, is complete, and a book based on the report is in the publication stage. The conference is in the initial planning stages and aims to build upon the findings of the report.
« LOSS AND RE-MAKING OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOME IN SUR, DIYARBAKIR »
Publication Date: End of 2023 or Early 2024
About the Book/Project: This forthcoming publication delves into the complexities of displacement and homemaking in Sur, Diyarbakır, in the wake of the 2015/2016 armed conflicts. Comprising two main parts, the book first explores the spatial transformation of Sur, examining its legal, cultural, economic, and political dimensions. The second part focuses on the personal stories of those displaced, shedding light on the loss and re-making of both public and private homes.
Methodology: Based on qualitative analysis, the book features in-depth interviews with 32 individuals who were forced to leave Sur, aiming to provide a nuanced understanding of the layered meanings of lost and newly made homes.
Upcoming Events: A series of conferences will be organized in the second half of 2024 to further discuss and disseminate the book’s findings and implications.
« EXAMINATION OF DRONE AND UAV USE IN KURDISH REGIONS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL AND HUMANITARIAN LAW PERSPECTIVE »
Project Summary: This groundbreaking study aims to explore the legal, ethical, and humanitarian implications of drone and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) use in Kurdish regions across Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. Utilizing frameworks of international and humanitarian law, the project will focus on case studies that investigate potential violations and remedies.
Project Start Date: March 1, 2024
Final Report Due: May 15, 2024
SUPPORTING THE INDEPENDENCE AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS IN TURKEY
Project Summary: The Mesopotamia Observatory of Justice (MOJUST) has initiated a project focused on supporting and safeguarding lawyers who are actively involved in human rights advocacy in Turkey. The country has been notorious for imprisoning more lawyers than any other nation since 2011, often under vague anti-terrorism laws. This project aims to bolster the independence of the legal profession, offer aid to lawyers who are either imprisoned or facing prosecution, and lobby for legal reforms at both the national and international levels.
Start Date: 2023
Current Status:
- Fieldwork: A comprehensive field study has been conducted, and a report is in the process of being published as a book.
- Upcoming Workshops: The second phase of the project involves organizing workshops aimed at strengthening the capacities of lawyers in human rights advocacy.
« ESTABLISHING HUMAN RIGHTS-CENTRIC ETHICAL JOURNALISM IN KURDISH MEDIA »
Project Summary: The Mesopotamia Observatory of Justice, in collaboration with Journalists Associations, is launching a pivotal initiative aimed at fostering ethical journalism centered on human rights within Kurdish media across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The project addresses the unique challenges faced by Kurdish media, such as censorship and suppression, and aims to train journalists in human rights-respectful reporting methods.
Project Start Date: 2024
Current Status: In Preparation Phase
« SEEKING JUSTICE AND REMEDIES FOR VICTIMS OF TURKEY’S DESTRUCTION AND VIOLATION OF KURDISH CEMETERIES AND GRAVES »
Project Summary: This initiative aims to provide legal support and reparations for victims affected by the destruction and violation of Kurdish cemeteries and graves in Turkey. Utilizing both domestic and international legal mechanisms, the project seeks to hold Turkish authorities accountable for these crimes.
Start Date: First Phase: 2022, Second Phase: Early 2023
Current Status:
The first phase of the project included fieldwork and the publication of a report in book form, available as a PDF on our website. The second phase commenced in the first half of 2023.